How To Buy A Snowboard Bag

Heading on an adventure and not sure which snowboard bag to choose? Let us help you narrow down the choices.

What size do I need?

Most board bags come in a fixed set of sizes like 146cm, 156cm, 166cm, etc. The size you need will be the largest board you are planning to store in the bag. For example, if you have a 162cm, you would need to jump up to a 166cm bag. These sizes are generally built to handle a slightly larger board (around 2cm) than the size. So if you are on the fence and have a 157-158, it will still most likely fit into a 156. Keep in mind that going larger will allow you to store more gear like boots, bindings, helmet, etc.

What's the most basic bag?

A great bag that is perfect for day (car) trips is a board sack. The sack has no padding but it will protect your board from being banged around in the trunk of your car. We don't recommend these for airplane rides or any application where you need extra protection, but they keep away the un-wanted scratches and stuffs.

Why would I want padding?

When you fly, your board is crammed in a gear compartment with a bunch of other random equipment and there are a ton of opportunities for your board to get damaged. A proper padded bag will offer just enough insulation to protect your bag while still offering enough extra room for you to pack your boots, outerwear and helmet.

Wheels or no wheels?

This is a personal preference but if you've ever been running late to the airport and have to rush around with all your gear, wheels will save your sanity. Plus, if you store all of your gear in your bag (like many do), wheels make it much easier to lug around the 40lbs of equipment.

What if I am taking multiple boards?

For those traveling with multiple setups, check out some of the larger bags like board cases or wheelie lockers. These larger bags will have separate compartments for multiple boards and will have plenty of room for extra boots, bindings and any other gear you might need for your trip. Keep in mind, only one setup can actually have the bindings mounted. The rest will have to be removed for transportation but you will have plenty of room to still fit them in the bag.